Chapter 4
Formatting a Diskette
This chapter briefly describes how to format a diskette with diagnostics.
Normally, you format a diskette using the MS-DOS FORMAT command.
However, if you are running diagnostics and decide to test your floppy drives
(which requires a formatted diskette), you can select option 3, Format disk-
ette, from the OPERATION MENU. This option lets you format a 360KB
double-density or a 720KB high-density diskette without exiting diagnostics.
The Format diskette program destroys any data on the diskette. When
formatting your diskettes, the program also initializes the directory and file
allocation tables.
To format a diskette, select option 3 from the OPERATION MENU. If
you have two diskette drives, you see this message and prompt:
Format Diskette
Format in which drive (A/B)?
Press
A
or
B
and
Enter.
Then this prompt displays:
Insert new diskette for drive A:
and strike ENTER when ready
(The
A
: is
B
: if you selected that drive.) Insert the diskette to be formatted
and press
Enter.
The screen displays the head and cylinder numbers as the
diskette is formatted.
When the format is complete, you see these messages (for a 360KB
diskette):
Format complete
362496
bytes total disk space
362496
bytes available on disk
Format another (Y/N)?
You can format another diskette or return to the OPERATION MENU.
For a complete description of the FORMAT command, refer to the
MS-DOS manual.
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